Planting Seeds of Legacy: Love Over Hate

Devotional

Day 1: Legacy Is Made in Life, Not in Death

The way we live each day, the words we speak, and the actions we take are what truly shape the legacy we leave behind—not the circumstances of our death. Our daily choices, especially those rooted in love, justice, and compassion, are the seeds that will bear fruit long after we are gone. Death does not canonize a person or erase the harm or good they have done; rather, it reveals the true harvest of their life. Let us be intentional about the seeds we plant, knowing that our legacy is not decided at our funeral, but in the quiet, consistent acts of love and justice we offer to the world. [39:34]

Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Reflection: What is one small, intentional act of love or justice you can choose today that will help shape the legacy you want to leave behind?

Day 2: The Power of Sacrificial Love

True transformation and fruitfulness come when we are willing to let go of self-preservation and comfort, following Jesus’ example of sacrificial love. Just as a grain of wheat must fall to the earth and die to bear much fruit, we are called to surrender our lives in service, trusting that God will use our sacrifices to bring about a greater good. This kind of love is not always easy, but it is the path to a legacy that endures and multiplies blessing for others. [24:30]

John 12:24-26 (ESV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him."

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to let go of comfort or self-interest in order to serve others more fully this week?

Day 3: Sowing Seeds of Justice, Kindness, and Humility

Every day, we have the opportunity to sow seeds that reflect God’s heart for justice, kindness, and humility. These are not just lofty ideals, but practical ways of living that shape our communities and the world for the better. The call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God is a guide for how we can plant seeds that will bear good fruit for generations to come, even when the world around us is sowing division and hate. [41:20]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can practice justice, kindness, or humility in your interactions today?

Day 4: Sowing in Tears, Reaping with Joy

There are seasons when planting seeds of love, justice, and compassion feels especially hard—when we are grieving, angry, or overwhelmed by the brokenness of the world. Yet, even in these times, God promises that our faithful sowing will not be in vain. The tears we shed as we work for good are seen by God, and in time, they will give way to a harvest of joy and hope for ourselves and others. [42:25]

Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV)
"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you sowing seeds through pain or difficulty? How can you trust God with the outcome of your faithful efforts?

Day 5: Choosing a Legacy of Compassion for the Common Good

We each have the power to choose what kind of legacy we will leave—whether it is one of fear and division, or of compassion and justice for the flourishing of all people. By investing in the future, planting seeds of generosity, and building communities rooted in Christ’s love, we can help create a world where all are welcomed, valued, and nourished. Our faith calls us to look beyond ourselves and to plant trees whose shade we may never sit under, trusting that God will use our lives to bless generations to come. [38:53]

Proverbs 11:25 (ESV)
"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."

Reflection: What is one way you can invest in the well-being of future generations—through your words, actions, or resources—so that your legacy is one of compassion and blessing?

Sermon Summary

On this September Sunday, we gather as a community carrying the weight of a heavy week—one marked by violence, loss, and the deep divisions that scar our nation and our hearts. In the midst of this, we are invited to reflect on the idea of legacy: not just what we leave behind in death, but what we are actively planting through our lives. The events of the week, including the tragic school shooting in Evergreen and the killing of Charlie Kirk, force us to confront the reality that legacy is not determined by how we die, but by how we live. Our words, actions, and the seeds we sow—whether of love or hate, justice or division—shape the world that will outlast us.

We are reminded that every act, every word, every choice is a seed planted in the soil of our collective future. The Gospel of John’s image of the grain of wheat falling to the earth and dying so that it may bear much fruit calls us to a life of self-giving, of investing in the flourishing of others, even when we may not see the harvest ourselves. The pain and outrage we feel at violence and hate—whether in our own community or on the national stage—must not lead us to despair or to mirror the very hate we lament. Instead, we are called to sow seeds of peace, compassion, and justice, trusting that these will bear fruit for generations to come.

Legacy is not about being canonized by death or having our flaws erased in the wake of tragedy. Rather, it is about the daily, sometimes difficult, choices to love, to tell the truth, to stand with the vulnerable, and to invest in a future we may never see. We are challenged to ask: What trees are we planting today whose shade we may never sit under? What kind of community are we nurturing for those who will come after us? In a world addicted to outrage and violence, we are invited to be a people who plant and nurture seeds of hope, healing, and unity. May our lives speak of God’s goodness, and may we be remembered not for the noise of our times, but for the love and justice we dared to sow.

Key Takeaways

1. Legacy Is Formed in Life, Not Death The way we live—our daily choices, words, and actions—determines the legacy we leave, not the circumstances of our death. Death does not canonize or erase the truth of a life; it reveals what was truly planted. We are called to be intentional about the seeds we sow, knowing that our legacy is shaped moment by moment, not in a single final act. [27:44]
2. Sowing Seeds of Peace Amid Violence In a culture saturated with outrage and violence, it is easy to become numb or to respond in kind. Yet, we are challenged to resist the spiral of hate and instead sow seeds of peace, compassion, and justice—even when it feels risky or when we are grieving. The fruit of these seeds may not be immediate, but they are the foundation of a future where love prevails over division. [35:16]
3. The Power and Responsibility of Our Words Words are not neutral; they have the power to heal or to harm, to build up or to destroy. The verbal violence that saturates our public discourse often spills over into physical violence. As followers of Christ, we must choose our words with care, ensuring they reflect the love, truth, and justice of the Gospel, rather than perpetuating cycles of harm. [32:34]
4. Investing in a Future We May Never See True greatness is found in planting seeds—of generosity, justice, and faith—that may only bear fruit long after we are gone. This is the essence of legacy: to invest in the flourishing of others, to plant trees whose shade we may never enjoy, trusting that our love and faith will outlast us and bless generations to come. [36:17]
5. Choosing the Version of Christianity We Embody Each of us has a choice in what kind of faith we embody and pass on. Will we be known for a Christianity that sows fear and exclusion, or one that sows peace, compassion, and justice for the common good? Our daily actions, both seen and unseen, are the seeds that will define the faith legacy we leave for future generations.

** [38:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:10] - Community Greetings and QR Code Introduction
[05:30] - Introduction to Legacy and Planned Giving
[08:45] - Commitment of Affirmation and Inclusion
[15:19] - Centering and Threshold Invitation
[20:26] - The Power of Community in Heavy Times
[22:00] - Poem: Changing Someone’s World
[24:30] - Gospel Reading: The Grain of Wheat
[25:07] - National Tragedies and the Question of Legacy
[27:44] - The Complicated Legacy of Charlie Kirk
[30:03] - Violence, Scapegoating, and the Cycle of Hate
[33:24] - What It Means to Die with Hate or Love
[36:17] - Planting Trees for Future Generations
[38:53] - Choosing Our Legacy and the Seeds We Sow
[41:20] - Jesus’ Planting Guide: Sowing Love and Justice
[42:25] - Imagining a Legacy of Compassion
[44:39] - Guided Silence and Prayer
[47:38] - Prayers for the Community and the World
[58:42] - Announcements and Community Life
[59:50] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 12:24-26 (ESV) — > Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV) — > Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Micah 6:8 (ESV) — > He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Observation Questions

In John 12:24, what does Jesus say must happen to a grain of wheat for it to bear much fruit? How does this image connect to the idea of legacy? [24:30]
According to the sermon, what recent events in the community and nation made the topic of legacy especially urgent this week? [25:07]
What does Galatians 6:7-9 say about the relationship between what we sow and what we reap? How was this principle illustrated in the sermon? [32:34]
The sermon mentions the power of words and their impact. What examples were given of how words can either heal or harm? [31:14]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus use the image of a grain of wheat dying in John 12:24? What does this say about the kind of life he calls his followers to live? [24:30]
The sermon argues that legacy is formed in life, not in death. How does this challenge the way people often talk about someone after a tragedy? [27:44]
In what ways does the cycle of violence and outrage described in the sermon reflect the warning in Galatians 6:7-9 about sowing and reaping? [35:16]
The sermon asks, “What trees are we planting that others will one day sit beneath?” What does it mean to invest in a future we may never see, and why is this important for followers of Jesus? [36:17]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to consider the “seeds” we are planting with our words and actions. Think about your conversations this past week—were there moments when your words could have either built someone up or torn them down? What would you do differently next time? [31:14]
In a culture “addicted to outrage and violence,” how can you personally resist the temptation to respond in kind? Is there a specific situation where you feel called to sow peace instead of division? [35:16]
The idea of legacy is not just about being remembered, but about what we are actively planting now. What is one small, concrete action you can take this week to invest in the flourishing of someone else, even if you may never see the results? [36:17]
The sermon asks us to choose what version of Christianity we embody. Are there ways your faith could be more focused on sowing peace, compassion, and justice? What would that look like in your daily life? [38:53]
The message highlights the responsibility of our words, especially in public or online spaces. Is there a recent example where you were tempted to join in negative or harmful speech? How could you have responded differently to reflect the love and justice of the Gospel? [32:34]
The sermon references Micah 6:8—doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly. Which of these do you find most challenging right now, and what is one step you can take to grow in that area this week? [41:20]
The pastor spoke about planting “trees whose shade we may never sit under.” Who in your life—family, church, community—might benefit from seeds you plant today? How can you be intentional about this in the coming month? [36:17]

Sermon Clips

Legacy is not made in death. Death legacy is made in life. Mr. Kirk's death brings up complicated emotions. It has for me this week, maybe some of you too, complicated emotions across the theological and political spectrum. Because his voice was one, as Christians, many of us still resisted, in the ways that Mr. Kirk sowed words of exclusion, racism, homophobia, misogyny, transphobia, all in the name of Christianity. In my pastoral and Christian view, he was not a prophet of Jesus. He was not a voice of compassion that rings the chimes of freedom that we hear in the Christ's call of the Gospels. [00:26:28]

How do we lament another violent death without pretending any single legacy is automatically holy? How do we speak the truth without becoming the opposite of what Christ defines as a testament of love? How do we find ways to continue to sow seeds of peace and love in a world that's slinging seeds of hate and division in the name of Christianity and the Christ who founded the movement? [00:29:27]

Every act of gun violence is a tragedy no matter who it takes. Violence only begets more violence, as King said. Violence multiplies violence, leaving a sky of night already devoid of stars. We do not celebrate anyone's death. We grieve it. And yet death does not canonize a life. Death reveals legacy. [00:30:03]

We're told that it's the fault of the radical left. And it's the fault of the it is. Don't even wait. Of black and brown communities, of immigrants, of trans people, easy scapegoats that have nothing to do with the truth. Even as multiple HBCUs across the country this week received death threats traumatizing black college students in Alabama and Georgia and Virginia and Louisiana. So where does this leave us today? It leaves us at least with the gospel's reminder that as St. Paul says we all sow what we reap. [00:32:38]

It's a sad and particular thing to literally die with hate in your heart. Spewing death dealing ideologies from your lips on camera and for that kind of hatred and fear being the hook of your life song. The thesis of your life song, the thesis of your story, and ultimately the lasting image of your legacy. We're all going to die someday. May we not die as haters and hate mongers. [00:34:15]

We live in a culture addicted to outrage. We live in a culture addicted to weaponizing words and too easy access to guns. We are living in a harvest of violence from seeds sown long ago and still being sown today. We cannot undo the damage of hate -filled words, but we can choose a different seed to sow into the ground of our collective becoming. [00:35:13]

We can sow love, we can sow justice, we can sow generosity that builds a tomorrow rooted in Christ's way, not the culture of death and division. It's like what the poet Traumor talked about today, like a lilac in May that risks being frozen, but we open our heart anyway. We keep preaching and proclaiming and embodying justice and compassion for the common good anyway. [00:35:43]

It's about the seeds we choose to plant now so that others may reap in the future. It's about saying my life is not just for me. My love, my generosity, my faith will outlast me. I will plant seeds of compassion that future generations will harvest. [00:37:03]

I wonder with you today, what trees are we planting that others will one day sit beneath? That's our job, isn't it? As citizens of two kingdoms, this country we live in and the one we are ambassadors and champions for the kingdom of God, Christ came proclaiming. [00:37:24]

Every one of us has a choice. We do not control death. But we do choose our legacy. We choose what words we will sow. We choose what version of Christianity that we will put out into the world for ourselves and future generations. We choose what kind of community we will nurture. We choose what kind of community we will be. We choose whether our faith will plant seeds of fear and hate or seeds of peace and compassion and justice for the common good. [00:38:53]

Death does not canonize us. Death reveals us. And here is the truth the gospel gives us today. Death is inevitable. But legacy is not. Our funerals do not decide our legacy. Our daily choices do. Death does not canonize someone into sainthood. Death reveals what was planted. [00:39:34]

Every one of us is sowing seeds every day. Our words, our actions, our giving, our investments, our justice, our silence, our love, our theologies, our politics, our economics. And those seeds do not vanish when we die. They sprout. They live on. They become not just a legacy we live behind, but the legacy we set in motion for the future. [00:40:20]

Jesus calls us to sow different seeds. Seeds of justice, seeds of kindness, seeds of humility, seeds of peace. The prophet Micah says, what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? This is not just a nice verse for a cross stitch. [00:40:55]

Jesus offers a planting guide for the kingdom. Sow love where there is division. Sow mercy where there is judgment. Tell the truth when we are being gaslit at a collective level. Sow peace where there is violence. And here's the miracle. Here's that lilac in May that risked being frozen but opens anyway. Even when we plant those seeds in tears. Amid grief. Amid stupid choices. Amid outrage. They can still bear fruit. [00:41:33]

Finally today, imagine with me, what if the seeds we plant today, through generosity, through justice, through courage, could grow into a boulder, where children are safe in schools, where churches are known for love, not hate, where faith is a source of healing and not division. [00:42:30]

What if Pine Street's legacy, as a faith space, committed to reimagining church and faith for the common good, what if our legacy is not just that we existed, but that we planted seeds of compassion that will feed and nourish souls we will never meet. That we sowed seeds in Christ's name that led to the flourishing of all people for the common good in Christ's name. [00:42:56]

Death is inevitable. Legacy is not. We are shaping the worlds our words will leave behind. And a future being built as a love -centered community of spiritually transforming people who embrace everyone, inspire life, and create more to serve our neighbors and future generations. Let it be so. Let us say so. And let us act so. [00:43:26]

Friends, as you go out into this day, it's so important for you to remember who you are. You are sons and daughters and siblings and children of God. You are friends and followers and disciples of Christ Jesus. And the love and the peace and the joy and the justice and the beauty of God are forever in the world and at loose in the world through your lives. Go now and live like it is true because it is. [00:59:31]

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